The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Mr MKK FARMS]

ok think I've found what I want... http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-P2P-R...Tilt-WiFi-Wireless-Night-Vision-/221334300313

it's a wireless webcam with pan and tilt. it'll run off 5v dc, so it would be dirt simple to have a smallish deep cycle battery or 2 and just rotate them out when it gets low (charge the dead one back up).

most wireless networks have a range of at least 100'. I know I can access the network on my laptop from further away than my coops are from the house. so the cost of a battery and $25 for the camera, and you're up and running with just a little setup... once I get caught back up with bills that'll be on my list (again).

Hope you get it! I saw it and immediately thought of the movie wally.

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Well I should get to bed, so long!

 

[CoopChick719]

Okay...what would it take to set up a web cam to watch wirelessly? Electricity in the barn to run the camera I assume. What else wd I need? I don't have a smart phone; it would have to wk with computer.

Someone enlighten me.

DH bought the Lorex Wireless video monitoring system on eBay for our coop. www.lorextechnology.com I do have electricity in the coop. It has the capability for 4 indoor/outdoor cameras, night vision, zoom & pan, and a 2 way intercom.

It can be viewed by on a computer but does come with a small 7" monitor--about the size of one of those digital picture frames. It is in the house on my sidetable. Right now, there are 2 cameras in the coop one on the roost, the other on the nesting boxes. The plan is to get 2 more cameras for the run and the house, garage & driveway. It can be viewed away from home via Skype. I haven't learned how to do that yet but the kids will be home soon from college. I'll let them have a crack at it.

P.S. I call it The Lorex...he speaks for the chickens.

 

[delisha]

I feel a little silly bringing this up right after frostbite and snow problems, but my coop floor floods when it rains. One problem is that the roof leaks, but water is getting in some other way too.

My coop is pallet walls, sheet metal roof, and dirt floor.

I use DLM for bedding (dry leaves, pine straw, shavings when I have them, etc.) I use mostly pine straw in the nesting boxes with some small leaves and I use large leaves with some pine straw on the floor. I also add DE (lol that's been flooded, so IDK how effective it's going to be wet, if anyone does know please tell me).

I've been thinking about digging a ditch on the uphill side, which is the front. Any other ideas?

You might not be too late to temporary winterize if you live in warmer climates.
1. Fix your leaks
2. Toss in a few bales of hay

Next spring move the coop up on dry ground..if you don't..you are asking for trouble.

2 will not work with out 1
DE does not work wet

What is the easiest way to cull some extra cockerels for the freezer? My grandparents always used an axe, but I'd rather not do that.....
Also, has anyone ever processed Bantam Cochins? Is there even enough meat to put forth the effort?

The video is a great suggestion..

OK folks, a friend is trying to make some decisions about where she is going to go with her poultry flock this coming year. We would like some input from more experienced breeders. Keep in mind we are looking at quality, standard bred birds, not hatchery stock.

Right now one decision is Plymouth Rock vs Orpington
My take on them is that they are about the same size bird, they should be about the same meat wise. I believe that they lay roughly the same. I *think* but am not sure that the orps may tend to be a bit broodier than the rocks. Any other pros or cons?


If you have a different breed that might fill the bill a bit better, please make some suggestions!

Her wish list;
Big eggs, good layers
good meat birds (ie cockerels grow quick to broiler/roaster size) old hens have some meat left on their bones
tolerate cold down to about 10 degrees
tolerate the heat well (she gets over 110 degree days in the summer)

Only one breed? Rocks

If she only wants one I would never get an Orpington. They are too broody. Some of my hens will clutch 3 times a year. I love my Orps don't get me wrong..I could not survive off just their eggs.
I actually would say to try White Rocks or even a RIR. Great meat and flavor profiles (My favorite is Wyandotte for flavor in an eating bird)
The Road Island reds and Rocks are super layers in all weather and tolerate heat well too.. They both weigh around 6lbs dressed..perfect size for roasting. Rocks will grow faster and be ready for butcher earlier than the RIR. The RIR have huge beautiful eggs..are a better layer and lay for a really long time. My oldest living laying birds usually have RIR in them. I love my Wyandottes for flavor profiles in the meat..love it..great layers too.

I have Orps and Rocks.. I used to have RIR and they were beautiful..They just took too long for me to grow out and a mature rooster is not as tasty. I have a few RIR crosses..and a few Cornish and rock crosses..I also have leghorn crosses for eggs. Great feed conversion on the huge eggs from leghorns.


Wyandottes (SL)

Wyandottes (BLR)

Orpingtons

Dotties

Rock/cornish cross

RIR

Rock

Leghorn

RIR

RIR crosses

Buckeye

Cornish/rock cross...yes..this is a chicken 14lbs dressed

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

x2 Orps are annoyingly broody.

I love my Orp cockerel we still have though...what a sweetie pie.

 

[Dreubber]

We just got our first two Silkie chicks excited to start raising chickens. Our toddler loves them

 

[aoxa]

OK folks, a friend is trying to make some decisions about where she is going to go with her poultry flock this coming year. We would like some input from more experienced breeders. Keep in mind we are looking at quality, standard bred birds, not hatchery stock.

Right now one decision is Plymouth Rock vs Orpington
My take on them is that they are about the same size bird, they should be about the same meat wise. I believe that they lay roughly the same. I *think* but am not sure that the orps may tend to be a bit broodier than the rocks. Any other pros or cons?


If you have a different breed that might fill the bill a bit better, please make some suggestions!

Her wish list;
Big eggs, good layers
good meat birds (ie cockerels grow quick to broiler/roaster size) old hens have some meat left on their bones
tolerate cold down to about 10 degrees
tolerate the heat well (she gets over 110 degree days in the summer)

Orps don't lay anywhere as close to a Rock in my experience with both. Orps are very broody. Barred Rocks do go broody - the heritage kind.. but not excessively.

Rocks grow meat faster than Orps.

Both are friendly (but I always found my Barred Plymouth Rocks the friendlier). I have only had Buff Orps, show stock. You see I always suggest barred.. I am so attached to them.


My up and comer. What do you think Del? I've heard she is a firecracker 23 weeks here.

 

[lalaland]

You might not be too late to temporary winterize if you live in warmer climates.
1. Fix your leaks
2. Toss in a few bales of hay

Next spring move the coop up on dry ground..if you don't..you are asking for trouble.

2 will not work with out 1
DE does not work wet
The video is a great suggestion..

Only one breed? Rocks

If she only wants one I would never get an Orpington. They are too broody. Some of my hens will clutch 3 times a year. I love my Orps don't get me wrong..I could not survive off just their eggs.
I actually would say to try White Rocks or even a RIR. Great meat and flavor profiles (My favorite is Wyandotte for flavor in an eating bird)
The Road Island reds and Rocks are super layers in all weather and tolerate heat well too.. They both weigh around 6lbs dressed..perfect size for roasting. Rocks will grow faster and be ready for butcher earlier than the RIR. The RIR have huge beautiful eggs..are a better layer and lay for a really long time. My oldest living laying birds usually have RIR in them. I love my Wyandottes for flavor profiles in the meat..love it..great layers too.

I have Orps and Rocks.. I used to have RIR and they were beautiful..They just took too long for me to grow out and a mature rooster is not as tasty. I have a few RIR crosses..and a few Cornish and rock crosses..I also have leghorn crosses for eggs. Great feed conversion on the huge eggs from leghorns.




Rock

I love this pic!

 

[lalaland]

well darn it, it won't let me post a pic of booster's frostbite. Not sure if it is the work security stuff or byc.
I'll try at home. The pic will make y'all cringe.

It was warm warm warm, about 20 degrees this morning, we are having a warm spell for a few days.

 

[Leahs Mom]

It must do okay in dusty barn/coop conditions?